Germany grab third place with Portugal defeat

Stuttgart, July 09: Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger scored two goals and forced the other as World Cup hosts Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to claim third place on Saturday (July 8).

Schweinsteiger fired home his first goal of the competition from long range in the 56th minute to put Germany ahead.

Five minutes later, a Schweinsteiger free kick was deflected into his own net by Portugal midfielder Petit, a halftime substitute.

Schweinsteiger added a third with a similar effort to his first in the 78th minute, the ball flying into the top right corner.

Substitute Luis Figo created Portugal's consolation, crossing perfectly from the right for Nuno Gomes to head home from close range two minutes from time.

Both sides had chances in an evenly balanced first half after Portugal surprisingly left captain Figo out of the starting line-up and Germany made six changes to their team.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose, the tournament's leading scorer with five goals. was substituted in the 71st minute without adding to his tally.

Figo, whose international future is the subject of speculation at the age of 33, came on for Pauleta in the 77th minute.

He had barely come on to the pitch when Schweinsteiger struck again to add further fuel to the German party mood which was barely dampened by Gomes's late diving header.

Bureau Report